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"Witches and Wizards and Wands, Oh My!" -- A Parent's Guide to Fantasy, Fiction and Faith

by Adam Andrews

As fantasy grows ever more popular in our culture, books and movies teem with elements that many Christian parents find objectionable. How can we equip our children to engage and influence their culture while protecting them from its evils? Adam makes a case for a type of reading that can accomplish both of these goals, and a vision for the Christian imagination that can restore our civilization to its roots in the transcendent God of all worlds, seen and unseen. Will the future of our culture be dominated by fairy tales and fantasy? Will it be ruled by wizards and dragons andenchantments? Help your students become the ones who will decide!

The Socratic Method for Dummies -- Become a Great Teacher the Easy Way

by Adam Andrews

What is The Socratic Method and how can it make me a better teacher? Is it a separate curriculum? Is it difficult to learn? Is it a lot of work to apply? Can I use it with what I'm already doing? Adam lays out simple answers to all of these questions by explaining and demonstrating a Socratic discussion that will encourage and inspire parents to imitate the ancient philosopher himself. Parents of kids in K-12 will learn a simple technique can be applied in any subject to dramatically increase the power of contact time. Best of all, there's nothing to buy - all you need is a kid and a kitchen table!

"Symbolism:" Mastering Literature’s Most Powerful Device

by Ian Andrews

No matter the author or genre, every work of literature is built in part on symbols. Identifying them, however, can be frustrating and difficult. Often it seems that an author’s symbols obscure his themes instead of making them clear. In a riveting presentation of one of the earliest English Poems, Ian Andrews explains this powerful device and shows how it can help you unlock the meaning of even the most difficult classics. All you need is the right series of simple questions.

Why Your Kids Love Fantasy Literature - and What To Do About It

by Ian Andrews

All children play make-believe; and while they are little, allowing their imaginations to fuel their play is a harmless joy. But what if they soon yearn for the worlds they find in their favorite novels: strange worlds, imaginary worlds, non-Christian worlds? What if they lose themselves in Fantasy? Ian Andrews summarizes a few well-known fantasy stories, and shares some simple literary tools that will help you start meaningful conversations about the joys and dangers of fantasy literature.

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Raising a Worldview Detective – Three Steps to Thinking Critically About Books, Movies and More

by Adam Andrews

How do you teach your students to apply a “Christian Worldview” to the books they read, the movies they watch and the culture they live in? The answer to this important question may surprise you, for well-meaning Christians often misunderstand the basic principles of worldview analysis. This misundertsanding often prevents Christian students from thinking clearly about contemporary culture. In this enthusiastic and engaging discussion of a literary classic, Adam Andrews helps you avoid a serious (though common) teaching mistake and presents three steps for understanding a story-teller on his own terms. This presentation will empower you to uncover, identify and evaluate an artist’s worldview for yourself – and to teach your students to do the same.

Education in an Hour – Teaching Life’s Most Crucial Lesson in One Sitting

by Adam Andrews

If you had only one hour in which to give your student a complete education, could you do it? If you accepted the challenge, what lesson would you teach? Adam Andrews argues that a complete and profound education can be acquired in one lesson – and then sets out to prove this audacious claim in an eye-opening, inspiring presentation. Adam first demonstrates the lesson using an example from his own subject, Literature. He then shows you how to teach it in your own area of interest. Adam gives examples of the lesson from every subject in the curriculum and invites the audience to contribute their own ideas. The power of this lesson may revolutionize the way you teach on a daily basis – and it only takes an hour!

"But What Good is an English Major?" – A Homeschool Graduate Reflects on the Benefits of a Literary Education

by Ian Andrews

K-12 homeschooler and Hillsdale College graduate Ian Andrews, son of Adam & Missy Andrews, shares experiences from a lifetime of reading and encourages anxious moms with a thought-provoking question: Can great literature help my kids succeed in a scientific and technological world? Ian provides an inspiring summary of an all-time classic story and argues that the self-knowledge, humility, and wisdom that come from reading such stories are absolutely critical for success – and that you, as the mom in the trenches, can lead them right to it. Literary education worked for Ian, and it can work for your students too.

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Teaching the Classics from Seuss to Socrates – Literary Analysis for Everyone

by Adam Andrews

Does the subject of literature seem like a mystery? Are you a loss about how to understand it yourself, much less teach it to your kids? This inspiring lecture demonstrates that everything you need to know about understanding and teaching literature is present in your second grader’s bedtime story. Adam reads a classics children’s story out loud and then leads the audience into a discussion of eternal literary themes. Along the way, he shows how you can do the same at home by following five simple steps. Your literature curriculum – to say nothing of family story time – will come alive automatically. You’ll never put the kids to bed the same way again!

Juxtaposition, metaphor, symbolism, irony, foreshadowing – HELP! Parents often avoid the subject of literature because of the intimidating vocabulary of literary analysis. The truth is, you don’t need a college degree in literature to understand this vocabulary; what you need is a well written children’s story. Adam takes the audience on a guided tour of literary devices, making discerning literary analysts out of each and every audience member. Doing the same with your own children couldn’t be easier, but beware: soon, they will be finding onomatopoeia everywhere they look.

American higher education has become unfriendly territory for Christians and other conservatives in many ways. Many parents wonder whether they should consider sending their students to college at all. Drawing from extensive experience in higher education, Adam offers invaluable advice on this all important question, suggesting ways to make the considerable benefits of a college education available to your homeschool graduates. You’ll learn valuable tips for deciding what kind of school to choose, and for avoiding the pitfalls that await the unsuspecting freshman. A must for every parent of high schoolers.

Designing Your Own Lit Program – a Scope and Sequence Workshop

by Adam Andrews

Many parents are dissatisfied with the books assigned in box curriculum sets – and yet, they feel inadequate to strike out on their own and create effective reading programs for their children. Adam puts these fears to rest with an inspiring lesson in scope and sequence development. Presenting a step-by-step procedure that is accessible to even the busiest teachers, Adam makes a powerful case that it’s not how many books you do, it’s how well you do them! Come listen and be set free from the “tyranny of the booklist.”

Homeschooling’s Highest Goal – Lessons from the Story of Job

by Adam Andrews

Education is not an object we can posses; it’s a state of the heart, mind and soul. All great leaders share certain attributes in these areas, and Job was one of the greatest! Adam’s unique perspective on Job’s career inspires parents to prepare their own students for leadership. The lecture sends them away with renewed vision for the liberal arts and practical suggestions for applying this vision in the classroom.

Literary Keys – Unlocking the Meaning of Classic Books

by Adam Andrews

Come listen to the story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his famous poem Paul Revere’s Ride. In the process, you will discover the surprising power of two literary elements – setting and context – to deepen your understanding of classic books. Based on the idea that every book is product of a certain time and place, Adam shows how to use these details as keys for unlocking the meaning and significance of any work of literature. Even if you’ve read the poem a thousand times, you might come away with a new perspective – and new vision for your work as a teacher.

Building the Perfect Reading List – How to Find Great Books for Students of All Ages

by Adam Andrews

In an engaging presentation that is as much class discussion as lecture, Adam involves the audience in a lively debate on the definition of the classic. In the process, listeners are encouraged to consider the moral and ethical nature of reading, and invited to suggest candidates for a “class list” of all-time great books. This presentation teaches three important tests to apply to any book in order to determine whether it is worthy – and suggests some reasons why you should even care. So, which books belong on your student’s reading list? Come listen and find out!

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